3 Tips For Curing Diarrhea

The secret to treating diarrhea lies in knowing the underlying cause.

Probably 95% of diarrhea is caused by the intestinal virus. There is no cure for intestinal virus. Your body will naturally cleanse the infection, given the time it takes - usually several to several days.

For various types of viral diarrhea, what most people want is something to stop diarrhea. Technically, it's not a cure. But what's the difference if you feel better?

So, tip # 1, to delay diarrhea, for the most reliable results, use loperamide over-the-counter (Imodium). The drug was by prescription only a few years ago (and higher doses still remain with the prescription). When your immune system hatches and coughs up your infection, you can stop taking the medicine.

What about the other 5% of the time? Probably the second leading cause of diarrhea I see as a family doctor is "c" colitis, also known as "clostridium difficile colitis. This form of diarrhea is caused by bacteria and not viruses, and almost always occurs after patients have taken antibiotics for different types of infections, such as respiratory infections or urinary tract infections. Most female patients are aware that taking antibiotics can infect the vaginal yeast infection, but it can also be detrimental. Because regular antibiotics kill many good bacteria, harmful bacteria sometimes take over. In addition to diarrhea, cervical colitis can cause fever, stinking stools, and stomach aches, and weight loss.

Tip # 2 - If you have taken antibiotics recently and developed diarrhea, fever, stools, and possibly stomach aches, consult your doctor. You inappropriate Take loperamide in this situation. Diarrhea is part of your body's attempts to get rid of your infection. You should take metronidazole or vancomycin, both prescription antibiotics, or you are at risk for hospitalization.

Third, for patients with chronic diarrhea previously diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome, ask your doctor about celiac disease. This problem is recognized by the increasing frequency in the medical world, and due to the allergic reaction to gluten, which is found in wheat and other flour. In recent years blood tests have been developed to detect this disease. Previously, intestinal biopsies were required, and sometimes they were still. Ask your doctor if you need to take either or both of these tests.

Or, tip # 3, stop all gluten for at least a few weeks and see if your symptoms improve. You may want to switch several times, no longer gluten-free. If symptoms occur every time you reintroduce gluten into your diet, you may find your answer. Visit celiac.org for additional information.

The above does not cover every type of diarrhea. Other causes include damaged bowel, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, lactose intolerance, food poisoning, parasitic infections, stress-induced diarrhea, and dozens of unusual conditions. See your doctor for diarrhea for more than a few days, especially if you have additional symptoms such as stomach aches or cramps, fever, blood or mucus in the stool, weight loss, or dehydration.

Copyright 2010 Cynthia J. Koelker, M.D.

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